Welcome to the GW Historic Walking Tour! This tour takes you to some of the most noteworthy buildings on GW’s campus, places where the traditions and rich legacy of GW have taken shape. You’ll learn which buildings played host to a children’s orphanage and a historic desegregation dispute, and will meet characters in GW’s history ranging from a world renowned physicist to a social club hostess. Today’s Foggy Bottom neighborhood was first established as the village of Hamburgh in 1763 by German immigrant Jacob Funk, almost 30 years before the creation of Washington, D.C. in 1791. During the 19th century, the neighborhood was home to many industrial shops and factories as well as small brick row houses for workers that still stand in the western portion of the neighborhood. Foggy Bottom has been the site of The George Washington University’s main campus since 1912. In that year, the University purchased its first building in the neighborhood at 2023 G St. In 1924, GW built its first academic building, and in 1937 completed construction of its first dormitory. During the World War II era, Foggy Bottom transitioned from an industrial backwater to a fashionable neighborhood with a strong business and academic center. The State Department building at 23rd and D Streets, completed in 1943, was critical to this transition, as was the continual growth of GW. By the 1950s Foggy Bottom was an upscale neighborhood with few remaining signs of its industrial, working class past. Today the architectural landscape of Foggy Bottom is characterized by 19th century row houses and former alley dwellings; larger academic, commercial, and residential buildings from the 20th century; and a proliferation of exciting new development from the late 20th and 21st centuries. This tour was created by the GW Libraries Special Collections Research Center. All images are from the Special Collections Research Center, unless otherwise indicated. Walking Tour Begin at the corner of H and 23rd Streets, NW. 1. Fulbright Hall (2223 H Street) This eight‐story residence hall was formerly the Everglades Apartments. The university purchased the building in 1947 to house nurses on the staff of the George Washington University Hospital. It was renamed the Everglades Apartments for Nurses. In 1982, the building became Everglades Hall, a co‐ed dormitory, before being renamed in honor of Senator J. William Fulbright on May 6, 1996. Fulbright earned his LL.B. degree from GW in 1934. His congressional resolution in 1945 signaled that body's willingness to have the United States join the world peace organization that came to be known as the United Nations Organization. Fulbright is, of course, best remembered in academia for initiating the program of international student exchanges, which bears his name. Fulbright fellowships are still highly prized, and GW students have won their share of them. (Photograph of Fulbright Hall in 1947, from the University Historical Material records) Walk east on H St. toward 21st St. Turn right onto 21st St. 2. Lisner Auditorium (730 21st Street) Lisner Auditorium was named for the donor Abram Lisner, a merchant, philanthropist, and University Trustee (1909‐17, 1919‐ 1938). The cornerstone was laid in 1941 and construction completed in 1943. In 1946, Lisner was the epicenter for a major fight for desegregation in Washington. A play starring Ingrid Bergman was set to open at Lisner, but when Bergman heard the audience would be segregated, she told local newspapers of her opposition and the cast signed a petition denouncing the policy. The storm of controversy continued until 1947, when GW’s Board of Trustees decided to officially end its segregation policy and admit African‐Americans as patrons to Lisner. For many years Lisner hosted GW’s commencement exercises, and in the days before the Kennedy Center it was the major focus of Washington's theater scene. Since the 1940s, Lisner has hosted world famous musicians, singers, dancers, and entertainers. The diverse list of performers includes the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, David Byrne, Chick Corea, Jay Leno, Miriam Makeba, Bonnie Raitt, Pete Seeger, Andres Segovia, Jon Stewart, and Matthew Sweet. (Photograph of Lisner Hall in 1946, from the University Historical Material records) Cross to the other side of 21st St. at the crosswalk. Walk south on 21st St. toward G St. 3. Corcoran Hall (725 21st Street) Corcoran Hall was dedicated October 28, 1924, and named for William Wilson Corcoran, President of the Trustees and benefactor of the University. It was the first building constructed for GW on its Foggy Bottom campus. Built by Wardman Construction Company, Corcoran Hall was constructed as a classroom building. From 1934‐1956, renowned nuclear physicist George Gamow taught and conducted research in Corcoran Hall. He was a key participant in the Washington Conferences on Theoretical Physics in the 1930s and 1940s, which placed GW at the center of the world's most advanced research in the field. Thanks to a government contract designed to develop new technologies during World War II, the basement of Corcoran Hall was the birthplace of the bazooka. The program was so successful that its budget grew from nine million dollars annually at the beginning of the war to a budget of one hundred million dollars a month in 1945. Today, the department continues to host scientists performing cutting edge research and scholarship. The Departments of Chemistry and Physics call Corcoran Hall home. (Photograph of Corcoran Hall in 1959, from the University Historical Material records) Continue walking south on 21st St. toward G St. Cross over G St. at the intersection. Using the crosswalk, cross to the west side of 21st St. 4. Strong Hall (620 21st Street) The Hattie M. Strong Residence Hall for Women was constructed by the Charles H. Tompkins Company to meet the growing demand for residential housing at the University. It was the first dorm built on campus. Until the end of World War II, there was no campus housing for men. Mrs. Henry Alvah Strong gave the University $200,000 for a women's dormitory in December of 1934, and Strong Hall was dedicated on May 7, 1937. Mrs. Strong was a Washington resident and later a Trustee for the University. Her donation helped realize the vision of then President Marvin for a residential campus. Strong Hall has remained women‐only housing since its inception. (Photograph of Strong Hall in 1938, from the Office of University Relations records) Cross back over to the east side of 21st St., using the crosswalk. 5. Tonic (Quigley's Pharmacy) (2036 G Street) Quigley's Pharmacy is a notable landmark in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, situated at the corner of 21st and G Street. Though the pharmacy has since closed, the popular restaurant Tonic now occupies the building. The restaurant displays the original Quigley's Pharmacy sign above the entrance to honor their predecessor. History in the making is not uncommon at GW, and for decades Quigley’s was the place to observe it. In a 1970 issue of GW Magazine, former owner Al Kohrn spoke about Quigley’s role during the Watergate scandal. "We never had any problems with vandalism," Kohrn said. "In fact, when we had trouble down at Watergate, and the police pushed the people back on campus … we stayed open while they were being tear‐ gassed and got as many kids in here as we could." (Photograph of Quigley’s in 1912, from the University Historical Material records) Cross to the opposite (north) side of G St., using the crosswalk. 6. Woodhull House (2033 G Street) Built by Maxwell Woodhull in 1855, 2033 G Street was donated to the University in 1921 by his son General Maxwell Van Zandt Woodhull, a University trustee and benefactor. Woodhull had been instrumental in the University's decision to move its campus to G Street, and his bequest of the house commemorates the relocation of George Washington University from downtown Washington to Foggy Bottom. The building currently serves as the headquarters for the University Police. In 2011, GW announced that Albert H. Small donated his extensive private collection of Washingtoniana to the university. In addition, the university announced a partnership with the Textile Museum. The George Washington University Museum, which will house the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection, the Center for National Capital Area Studies, and the Textile Museum, is scheduled for completion in 2014. The museum will include Woodhull House and a newly constructed annex. (Photograph of Woodhull House in 1912, from the University Historical Material records) Walk east on G St. toward 20th St. Turn right onto 20th St. Cross to the east side of 20th St. at the intersection of 20th and F. Walk south on 20th St. toward F St. Turn left on F St. 7. F Street House (1925 F Street) Formerly the F Street Club (and also known as the Steedman‐Ray House), its guests have included Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton. Several accounts link the early history of the house to Alexander Ray, owner of Ray Mill in Georgetown and one of the largest Georgetown waterfront landholders. Ray purchased the house in 1868, and remodeled it. The house remained in the family until the early decades of the 20th century. The F Street Club was founded in 1933 by Laura Merriam Curtis Gross, who lived in the house briefly. After financial difficulties from the Depression she planned to sell it, but friends persuaded her to open it to paying guests for meals and parties. She did and for nine years it was known as the Curtis Club. Mrs. Curtis later married John Gross, a Bethlehem Steel official, and the club was sold to Club Inc.